Fresh Breeze (an imaginative reflection)

There have been heartaches, yes – and sorrows that ripped away your certainties and slammed the breath from your body. Times when you have felt silenced: voice stoppered, pains weighing down your feet. Set down your loads for a while and allow peace to break through. Sit by the river and, pausing to take a…

When AI art encouraged the return of human creativity (set in the year 2070)

Further building on the 2070 story I’ve been developing, this post is inspired by my own belief: that the internet as we currently know it may well be flooded with AI-generated content in the near future, and non-AI work might be regarded as inferior for a time … but the human desire for authentic expression – messy, imperfect, imprecise expression – can never truly die. We will return to our innate drive to dream.

Tribute to Brendan Kennelly: A Man of Warmth and Lyricism

Irish poet and author Brendan Kennelly – described by fellow writer Gabriel Fitzmaurice as a ‘poet of the people’ – passed away today. My fondest memory of Brendan was meeting him on the day of my graduation from Trinity College back in 2014. Less than an hour after the ceremony, my family and I encountered…

Celebrating June (so far): A Few Nature Photos

June has been balmy, bright and beautiful so far here in Ireland. Given how changeable our weather can be, I’ve been making the most of this bright patch while it lasts. 🌞 Our tiny front garden – bare and nondescript during the winter months – has transformed into an oasis of peace, with its many…

The Grandmother 🌺 (spoken word art)

A narrative reflection I wrote, on the Wise Old Woman within. 🙏 May she forever be honoured and held close to our hearts. The Grandmother ‘Why the long face?’ The children laughed As they crowded into the lonely man’s cave. He stared at them with baleful, bleary eyes That had long been deprived of the…

A Reflection For Introverts and Gentle Ones

You, gentle ones, may be surrounded by hard-hitting truth tellers, feisty freedom fighters, and overall badasses whose courage takes your breath away. You are amazed by their strength. You are awed by their ability to stride into controversial waters: how they willingly stick their heads above the parapet and boldly proclaim their truths. You see…

The World Has Gone Quiet

The world has gone quiet. For the first time in living memory, St. Patrick’s Day – Ireland’s national holiday – went by without fanfare, without a glittering parade, without throngs of people lining the streets. Last week, supermarket shelves were stripped bare … but then stories of kindness began to trickle in. I heard of…

The Fairies of Fota (Photography)

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love fairies! I was overcome by excitement last year, when I feasted my eyes on the beautiful fairy trail on the grounds of Parknasilla Resort in Sneem, Co. Kerry. Last weekend, I got to experience that excitement all over again when my partner and I visited…

Poetry Day Ireland: Three Poems That Inspire Me

Today (Thursday May 2nd) is Poetry Day Ireland! The craft of poetry means a lot to me, so I wanted to celebrate this day by highlighting three poems that speak very deeply to my heart. ❤️ The amazing Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver passed away in January of this year. Her powerful poem The Journey means…

Nature Photography: Spring Blossoms

Today was bright, sunny, mild, inviting: all of the things I love to see and feel on a spring morning. 😊 With the equinox behind us, we’ve reached our tipping point and winter is well and truly on its way out (no disrespect to winter – winter is great – but I’ve always been more enamoured…